Copyright notice regarding Daniel Siskind / Brickmania kits

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Dan
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Copyright notice regarding Daniel Siskind / Brickmania kits

Post by Dan »

In recent months I have run across several people selling my kits and/or instructions without my permission. While I appreciate that my models and name have become marketable items, I do not appreciate that other people are using them to make money without sending me royalties, let alone bothering to ask my permission.

Playing with Lego bricks is one of my foremost passions in life, but doing Brickmania kits also involves endless hours of just plain work. I have recently resigned my "real job" in order to fully concentrate on the new generation of Brickmania kits and instructions. With a family to support this means I have to be very conscious about making a positive return on my investment of time and money. When someone else is selling my products it takes away from the legitimate return I should be receiving for my time, skills and material expenses.

With this in mind I am outlining my position on reproducing Brickmania's kits and instructions.

1. I control the copyright on all Brickmania instructions, kit packaging, website and all images contained therein. Permission is granted to make a backup or printout of my instructions for personal use only. Any other reproduction for sale, transfer or other distribution is not allowed except with my written permission.

2. My instructions and kits are intended for the end-user to build a model of my design for their own personal use and enjoyment. These designs are also my intellectual property and may not be resold or otherwise distributed without my written permission. In other words it is not OK to use my instructions—even if paid for them—to recreate my designs for resale.

3. My kits, models, instructions, web galleries (Flickr, MOC Pages, etc.) and web site content may not be reproduced in any other medium without my written permission. The exception being posting of images of models derived from my kits and instructions on personal web blogs and galleries. In this case I politely ask that credit be given for my design and a link provided back to http://www.brickmania.com.

Faced with the prospect of not being able to put food in my kids' bellies I must insist that these guidelines be respected. Failure to comply with these may result in expulsion from the fair lands of Brickmania, legal action, an all-expenses paid vacation in federal prison, and/or a visit by the Brickmania goon squad.
Brickmania custom models and instructions. Gallery and free downloads at [url=http://www.brickmania.com]www.brickmania.com[/url]
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Blue Moon Knight
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Re: Copyright notice regarding Daniel Siskind / Brickmania kits

Post by Blue Moon Knight »

You gave up your real job for Lego? I admire your dedication mate, but that doesn't seem like the wisest decision when you've got children to think about. Of course, no one should be selling your designs...
To those who are about to Lego: toss me a few bricks.
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Aliencat
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Re: Copyright notice regarding Daniel Siskind / Brickmania kits

Post by Aliencat »

Out of sheer curiosity (we all know what curiosity did to the cat), why are you posting this on the Classic-Castle forums? I mean, assuming you've posted these same terms and conditions on your own website.
Do you have reason to believe a member of Classic-Castle has been reselling your designs without your permission?
Between plotting to kill you all and chasing balls of yarn, I also build [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/30639040@N02/albums]MOCs[/url]

[img]http://stopthetrack.com/lego/embassy/alienambassadorpng.png[/img]
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Dan
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Re: Copyright notice regarding Daniel Siskind / Brickmania kits

Post by Dan »

I'm posting this same notice in al public forums I participate in. My web site was not the only place where my kits and instructions are available (f.e. my Panther tank instructions were downloaded more than 60,000 times from BIP before it went away). By posting this far and wide I am making certain that my feelings are clear and people bootlegging my stuff have been notified to stop. Since posting this notice I have been made aware of even more bootleggers than I was previously aware of.
Brickmania custom models and instructions. Gallery and free downloads at [url=http://www.brickmania.com]www.brickmania.com[/url]
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Dan
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Re: Copyright notice regarding Daniel Siskind / Brickmania kits

Post by Dan »

Blue Moon Knight wrote:You gave up your real job for Lego? I admire your dedication mate, but that doesn't seem like the wisest decision when you've got children to think about. Of course, no one should be selling your designs...
Maybe you live in a different world than I do, but my background is the music business and tech fields and there is absolutely zero job security there. Getting a full time gig with benefits is next to impossible and working project to project is extremely stressful. I would rather have a small but steady income selling my kits rather not knowing if I'm going to have any income at all two weeks down the line. Selling kits paid my rent and bills while I was in college and my stuff is even more popular today (hello, the beloved Medieval Marketplace is a direct descendant of my castle designs).
Brickmania custom models and instructions. Gallery and free downloads at [url=http://www.brickmania.com]www.brickmania.com[/url]
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Blue Moon Knight
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Re: Copyright notice regarding Daniel Siskind / Brickmania kits

Post by Blue Moon Knight »

Dan wrote:(hello, the beloved Medieval Marketplace is a direct descendant of my castle designs).
What makes you say that?


I didn't realize your field of employment had little job security. I'm only 16 after all...
To those who are about to Lego: toss me a few bricks.
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Dan
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Re: Copyright notice regarding Daniel Siskind / Brickmania kits

Post by Dan »

Blue Moon Knight wrote:
Dan wrote:(hello, the beloved Medieval Marketplace is a direct descendant of my castle designs).
What makes you say that?
Got take a look a my old castle kits:

http://www.brickmania.com/brickmania-kits/castle-kits

Before I released them only a tiny handful people were making buildings on this scale and no one was doing civilian buildings. At first I was criticized for my stuff being out of scale with the "official" Lego castle sets, especially when my Blacksmith shop was released as an official set. Over the years my ideas caught on and now the prevailing attitude has shifted 180 degrees to where the scale and perspective I championed have become the accepted norm.

And anyone who thinks I am doing making castle sets has completely lost their marbles!
Brickmania custom models and instructions. Gallery and free downloads at [url=http://www.brickmania.com]www.brickmania.com[/url]
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Bluesecrets
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Re: Copyright notice regarding Daniel Siskind / Brickmania kits

Post by Bluesecrets »

This thread is off topic. Its original intent has been stated. This is now locked.
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